Urban skyscapes are dominated by cranes as the construction industry booms. Employment opportunities for the associated trades - electricians, plumbers, plasterers and bricklayers - are excellent. The Construction Industry Federation estimates that the numbers directly employed in the industry will reach 100,000 next year. The CIF has published a target schedule of apprenticeship intakes for the years up to 2000 (See graph below). Peter McCabe, CIF's business development director, is anxious that young people consider careers in the trades. "You don't need to have all those points," he says. Entry into electrician and plumber is very popular so a good Leaving Cert is an advantage, he adds, but in the other trades a good attitude and aptitude is as important.
In particular, he would like to encourage people into the "wet trades" such as plasterer, bricklayer and painter/decorator. Everybody wants to become a carpenter, electrician or plumber but there are good opportunities in other areas, he adds.
Robert Murphy, manager of apprenticeships with FAS, says that it would probably be wise for young people considering an apprenticeship to stay in education until the Leaving Cert. At present, about 56 per cent of the 14,000 apprentices registered with FAS have completed the Leaving Cert.
If you want to become an apprentice you must first find an employer who will offer you an apprenticeship and the employer must register you with FAS. Murphy says that this registration is vital. Your official apprenticeship only begins after registration. "We have come across the absurd situation where a person has been in a trade for many years but was never registered. De facto, they are not craftspeople," he explains.
As to finding an apprenticehip, many large organisations advertise their apprenticeships in the local and national newspapers. You can also approach employers directly and Murphy says that approaches through informal channels have been found to be most effective. FAS keeps lists of would-be apprentices which it makes available to employers.
All new apprentices follow the standards-based system of training. The older time-served system is being phased out, with about 4,500 apprentices completing this method of training.
New apprentices follow a sandwich type training with alternating periods on and off-the-job. The off-the-job training is provided by FAS, regional technical colleges and institutes of technology. Skills are tested in all phases.
McCabe says that CIF is happy with the new system of training but that the delivery mechanisms have not been able to cope with the increased numbers. Location of courses is also proving a problem with students having to travel considerable distances, in some cases, for their off-the-job training, he says.
"The crafts-based system will eventually prove to very good," says Murphy. The award for successful completion of the course is a national crafts certificate. This is recognised throughout the EU.
The proportion of girls registering for apprenticeships remains less than two per cent. To help change this, FAS offers bursaries to private sector employers who take on female apprentices.
AS, says that Although the numbers of women registering for apprenticeship is low (61 by June 30th this year), it is increasing. One of the key things is that it is increasing right across the trades - carpenter/joiner, toolmaker, fitter, painter/decorator, Murphy adds.
FAS also runs pre-apprenticeship programmes which allow people to sample the area before they decide to commit themselves. A number of Post Leaving Cert colleges also offer preapprenticeship courses. Check with your local VEC or PLC college.
